Guide to Health IT Career Success

Session SI1 February 15, 2019

Bonnie Siegel FHIMSS

• Bonnie Siegel, FHIMSS

• Has no real or apparent conflicts of interest to report.

Conflict of Interest

• Health IT job market overview

• Skills sought by hiring professionals

• Resume discussion and review

• Tips on interviewing and negotiations

Agenda

• Identify the key factors for the health IT market demand

• Analyze skills and attributes that are sought after by hiring professionals

• Illustrate what components make up a winning resume

• Prepare for successful interviewing and negotiations

Learning Objectives

• Healthcare provider organizations

– Hospitals, health systems, medical groups, ambulatory settings,

long term care, rehabilitation, behavioral health, skilled nursing

facilities

• Health IT vendor and consulting firms

– Software vendors, management consulting firms, start-ups

• Government and military health organizations

• Pharmaceutical and Bio-tech companies

• Professional associations in health IT

• Insurance and payers

• Education and academic

Overview of the Health IT Job Market

• Respondents

– 61% Healthcare provider organizations

– 39% Vendor and consulting firms

• Top priorities for the coming year

– Patient Safety

– Privacy, Security and Cybersecurity

– Data Analytics/Clinical and Business Intelligence

• Projected resource demands

– Vendors/consultants expect an increase in business

– Hospitals are projecting IT operating budgets will remain the same

or be reduced

Source: 2018 U.S. HIMSS Leadership and Workforce Survey

HIMSS Workforce Survey 2018

• Leadership roles in health system IT

– CIO, CTO, CISO, directors, managers, team leaders

• Informatics roles

– CMIO, CNIO, clinical and medical informatics leaders

• Specialized IT positions

– Technical IT support, IT security, system support, quality control,

help desk and system design

– Data analytics and business intelligence specialists

• Specialized IT positions

– Project management

– Implementation experts

– HIM release of information

– Financial and clinical support specialists

What Positions are In Demand?

• Academic

– Department chairs

– Professors

– Adjunct professors and faculty

• Vendor and consulting roles

– Sales

– Marketing

– Market research

– Customer service

– Project managers

– Implementation experts

What Other Positions are In Demand?

• Ideally five years of proven leadership ability

• Communication, customer service, sales and interpersonal skills

• Personnel management ability

• Project management skills

• Healthcare financial application expertise

• Clinical application and workflow knowledge

• Vendor product knowledge and implementation experience

• Technical expertise

Key Skills and Background Sought by

Health IT Employers

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field from an accredited college or

university

• Masters degree is preferred, MBA is a plus

• Licenses and certifications applicable to the position

Education Sought by Health IT

Employers

• Invest in education: BS, MS, MBA

• Consider certifications: PMP, CPHIMS, Six Sigma

• Develop leadership skills

• Identify internal and external mentors and coaches

• Lighten up – work/life balance, paint, dance, play in a band

• Network, attend conferences, intern, volunteer

• Be savvy about social media, google yourself

• Improve on verbal and written communication skills

Prepare Yourself for the Future

• Start with your contact information – “Where can the reader contact you?”

• Include a brief summary paragraph – “Why am I qualified”

• Reverse chronological format (present to past)

• Description of employers in one or two sentences, adds instant credibility

• Dates, locations, and titles for each position

• Group all positions for one employer under one heading

Resume Writing Tips

• Tell your unique career story, stand out from the crowd, list your key

accomplishments, not responsibilities

• List education, certifications, licenses, honors or technical skills at the end

• Use a traditional format, conservative font and style, no bold or colors,

proofread

• Describe tangible results oriented actions

More Resume Writing Tips

• Writing only a one page resume

– Strive for 2-3 pages, not too crowded and visually attractive

• Including abbreviations, acronyms without descriptions

– Spell out any acronym to help your reader understand

• Describing yourself in the first person

– Avoid the first person in your resume - I, me, my, myself

• Pictures, graphics, excess bolding and underlining

Actual Resume Mistakes

• Giving negative opinions, or thoughts about employers

– Ex. “My previous boss did not help me…”

• Forgetting to proofread or do spell/grammar check

– Use a friend, mentor, coach to help proofread

• Leaving off years that show gaps in history

– Be prepared to discuss any holes in background

• Adding references or personal information to a resume

More Resume Mistakes

• Check your Internet image, Google yourself, and remove or delete

anything in writing or photos that can be viewed as negative

• Work to build your professional reputation by writing and speaking in the

industry, get published, write an online blog

• Connect with leaders and groups in health IT, and seek recommendations

• Make an outstanding digital impression – recruiters and hiring

professionals will look for you online before they call you for an interview

Marketing Yourself - On-Line Image

• Review LinkedIn profiles of key health IT leaders to get ideas for

improving your profile – (HIMSS19 speakers and people you admire)

• Consider it your online business card and your most important social

media presence

• Utilize a professional portrait photo in business attire

• Describe your unique work history in the short summary; add an outline of

your resume with key dates and employers

• Join groups, connect with leaders and strive to reach 500+ connections

LinkedIn – Building A Strong Profile

• How can you briefly describe yourself to a stranger?

• Start a list of adjectives and keywords that describe your style and work

experience – all are unique to you!

• Ask peers, old bosses, family and friends how they would describe you

and your background and style

• Prepare a 75 word elevator pitch in 5-6 sentences in the first person

Prepare Your Elevator Speech

• Research organization, culture, mission, history, hiring manager and

executives - know everything you can learn

• Be ready to answer any question about your skills, experiences, career

plans and goals

• Wear formal business attire, arrive 10 minutes early

• Exude confidence, a firm handshake, and direct eye contact

• Practice, practice, practice

Be Prepared – Interview Tips

• Tell me about yourself?

• What has been your greatest accomplishment?

• What are your greatest strengths?

• Give me an example of when you…

• How do you handle pressure?

• Tell me about your goals?

Interviewing - Tough Questions

• Thank them for their time, offer a handshake and a smile

• Ask when you can expect to hear back from them

• Follow up with a short note or email thank you

• Reach out - connect on LinkedIn

• Send three to five business references, if requested

• Continue to follow-up, but don’t be desperate

Interview Conclusion and Follow Up

• They want you!

• Expect a signed offer letter, with title, salary and/or bonus, start date,

benefits and when they begin

• Check out if available relocation expenses, moving of household goods,

temporary housing, realtor visits

• Don’t over negotiate, set the right tone for the future, be creative and

know when to stop

• Be appreciative of their efforts

Offers and Negotiation Tips

• Assess your skills, attributes and education

• Prepare an outstanding resume and keep it updated

• Create an outstanding LinkedIn profile

• Volunteer/intern for health IT projects

• Target/research health IT provider organizations

• Learn the health IT vendors and products

• Subscribe to online health IT newsletters, attend conferences

Steps to Prepare for a Health IT Career

• Bonnie Siegel, FHIMSS

• Email: bonnie.siegel@gmail.com

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bonniesiegel

• Thank you!

• Please complete the online session evaluation

Questions